Liverpool supporters face major travel difficulties for next month's FA Cup final after Virgin Trains cancelled the majority of its direct services between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston on 5 May.

Engineering works outside the city, and between Crewe and Warrington, mean only three trains will run to London from Liverpool on Cup final day, each departing before 8am. Kick-off against Chelsea is at 5.15pm and supporters will be unable to return to Liverpool by train after the game.

Thousands of Everton and Liverpool fans queued at Lime Street from before 6am on Saturday to get trains for a 12.30pm FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and the latter will again be inconvenienced for the final. Services from Warrington Bank Quay have also been postponed because of the engineering works and supporters will have to catch a replacement bus service to Crewe, or depart from Manchester or Chester, to travel to the capital by train. Chartered supporter trains are available but must also leave Lime Street before 8am.

Despite the inevitable chaos on the bank holiday weekend Network Rail has confirmed the engineering works will go ahead as planned. A spokesperson for the company said: "Improvement works on the railway are planned around 18 months in advance, ahead of any scheduling of sporting events and knowing which teams will compete in the final. Fewer people travel on the network at weekends and so essential works are planned for when they will be least disruptive.

"Unfortunately on this occasion, with the FA Cup final earlier in the month than usual and with the FA choosing a later kick-off time, it has resulted in Liverpool fans unable to return by train. Delaying the works to improve the line would mean further delays to more passengers at a later date."

Virgin is considering increasing capacity on its London-bound trains on 5 May but has warned of severe disruption for those trying to return to Liverpool the day after the Cup final. A "restrictive" service will be operating for trains due to leave Euston on 6 May as a result of engineering works in Milton Keynes and Liverpool-bound trains will instead depart from Rugby, almost 80 miles away. Passengers have been advised to travel on the east coast line to Sheffield, Doncaster or York before taking a cross-Pennine service or take a five-hour journey involving five trains.

Liverpool will play Chelsea twice in four days as a result of the clubs' progress to the FA Cup final. Fernando Torres and company were due at Anfield on Sunday 6 May for Liverpool's final home game of the season but the Premier League match has been rearranged for Tuesday 8 May, with an 8pm kick off.